Fire-ladder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. J. JOHNSON.

FIRE LADDER.

No. 303,520. Patented Aug. 12, 1884.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. JOHNSON.

FIRE LADDER.

No. 303,520. Patented Au 12,- 1884.

NTE STATES Arena Fries.

FIRE-LADDER.

.aPEQIFZCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,520, dated August12, 1884.

Application filed April l), 1884.

To an whom it may OOIbOIIL:

Be it known that I, WILLIA JOHN J OHN- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented a new and useful Fire-Ladder, &c., of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention has relation to that class of extension or other laddersthat are mounted on trucks and designed to be used at fires by thefiremen, or by painters and the linemen of telegraph and telephonecompanies; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

Figure l is a view in perspective of a ladder embodying the improvementsof my invention, mounted on a truck ready to be drawn to any point whereit may be deemed necessary to use it. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view through the middle line of the ladder and truck. Fig. 3is a perspective view of the truck stationed in front of a wall and theladder elevated, its upper end resting against the window-sill. Fig. 4is a transverse vertical sectional view through the middle line of thetruck and ladder, and Fig. 5

is a view in perspective of the machine, showing the ladder elevated andthe extension projecting into the airi. 0., not leaning against a wall.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, a designates thetruck, consisting of abed-frame of any suitable construction, preferablymade of two parallel side bars, a a, mounted on two axles, b I), fromwhich latter rise ladder-supports c a. At the middle of the bed-frame isprovided a large and strong balland-socket support, d, the shell (1 ofwhich is made in two sections, cast integral with the horizontalbase-plates d d". The inner edges of the shell d are recessed at e e toform the transverse semicircular slot 6 in the shell when the sectionsare united. The side bars of the bed-frame are recessed at f to form theseats for the ends of the base-plates d d of the shell of theball-and-socket support. A grooved guide, is secured in a horizontalplane upon the end 9 of a stem, 9 which is (No model.)

- cast with or screwed into the ball portion h of the balland-socketsupport (I. The portion 9 of the stem has two vertical sides, and thethickness of this portion from side to side is a little less than thewidth of the semicircular slot 0, while the length of the portion 9 issomewhat-greater than the thickness of the 4 same, and rests in thecountersunk seat *6 at the middle of the semicircular slot 6. A headedpin, 1', is passed into a hole, i in the ball h at one end of the slot6, and holds the grooved guide 9 in its normal position, which ishorizontal and longitudinally of the truck. The pin should be .connectedby a ring and chain to the bed-frame, to prevent its accidental losswhen removed from its seat in the ball.

Hinged to the side bars of the bed-fran1e, at or near their middlepoints at each side, are two brace-rods, 7c 7r, which are held up byhooks k when not in use, and are intended, when used, to have their freeends enter the ground to brace the truck and prevent it from tippingover when the ladder is elevated.

The ladder Z is an extension-ladder, the basescction of which is bracedby hog-chains m m,

to give it the reguisite strength, and the ex tension is also braced bychains 12 n, connected with its upper end and passing back through eyesin the ends of the standards 0 0 to pulleys on the ends of acrank-shaft, p, havings bearings on the rails of the base-section. Achain, q, connected to the lower end of the extension, runs over apulley at the top of the base-section and connects with a pulley on themiddle of the crank-shaft p, and is wound thereon in a direction thereverse of the chains on the pulleys on the ends of said shaft, so thatin turning the crank in one direction the chain q willbe wound up andthe extension projected, the chains a a unwinding and moving out withthe extension to form the support therefor. By turning the crank in theopposite direction the chains 42 n will be wound up, the extensionretracted in its grooves in the base-section,and the chain q unwoundfrom its pulley.

The ladder in its normal position occupies the grooved guide 9, themiddle portion of the ladder resting in the guide, and the projectingends resting on the ladder-supports rising fron the axles.

Whenthe ladder is to be elevated, the pin is removed from the ball h topermit the ball to turn in its socket, and the butt-end of the ladder isturned around transversely of the truck, which brings the vertical sidesof the portion 9' of the stem 9 in. line with the slot 6, and permitsthe base end of theladder to be depressed, and the ladder to be pushedupwardly in the grooved guide 9, and given the required inclination.After the base-section has been set, if the extension is needed, it maybe projected, as before described.

The ladder may be leaned against the wall of the building or thetelegraph or telephone pole; or it may be elevated and used withoutleaning it against any support at its upper end,-

the truck being sufiiciently well braced to hold the ladder firmly atthe incline to which it has been elevated.

This ladder is simple, cheap, and durable, may be easily elevated, isperfectly safe, and is eflicient for the purposes for which it isintended.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination,with the truck provided with a grooved guide securedto the ball portion of a ball-and-socket support mounted on thebed-frame of the truck, and having a semiball-and-soeket support havingthe grooved guide secured to the ball portion by a flaringheaded stem,and the headed pin passed through a semicircu ar slot in the shellportion into a seat in the ball portion at one end of the slot to holdthe grooved guide in its normal position, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the truck, of the central ballandsocket supporthaving. a grooved guide, the stem of which is secured to the ballportion, and is adapted to be worked in a transverse semicircular slotin the shell portion, the ladder-supports rising from the axles, thehinged braeerods secured to the side bars, and the ladder ad. )ted toslide in the grooved guide, substantiaily as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixcdmy signature in presence of .two witnesses.

\VILLIAM JOHN JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK Hanan, \V. B. MURPHY.

